I dont see any pretty birds here, though I do see the Cockatoos on the wing over the valley. I hear the Magpies in the early morning, but seldom see them. The Indian mynas have driven all the native birds away.OUr Autumn is approaching.. thank goodness and the turn of the wheel!

How exciting, 'skunk cabbage whorls are visible in the snow'... I love this piece, it is the promise of spring on a very gloomy day, after all that glorious snow yesterday... but I can smell the hint of spring in the air. I remember reading your articles in the Record 'back then we still bought newspapers' ;) and I remember when they seemed to stop abruptly, yes?, or I stopped buying the actual paper since I read everything online now. Do you live in Sheffield? I am mixing people up a bit with so many new blogger friends that the 'Magpie Tales' has connected me with - and what fun for these last weeks of winter. I've created a new blog site for those Magpie stories as well more of my published stories that appear in The New Marlborough 5 Village News. (http://www.sundancehill.blogspot.com)Nice to connect with a neighbor. I love this line in your piece: "I won't have to go looking for signs. I will be surrounded by the season." Soon, soon!